Our Mission

Land, History, Self

(In-Schools Program)

Apr 11,2011, 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM @ Downtown High School

Dear Tutors,

First, we want to thank you for participating and
sharing your time. Your commitment to working with youth and their
written work makes a monumental difference in the public education
system. During Project WALC, (Wilderness Arts and Literacy
Collaborative) students have been studying the art of photography
alongside the geology of California. WALC, we always tell our students,
“Everything we teach you about nature, you can apply to yourselves.”
They will be creating digital stories to express our theme: “Where We’re
From: Land, History and Self.” Through collaborative work between
students, teachers, family and community organizations, students will be
required to write a script for their very own personal story that must
include their relationship with land and history as well as how
geological forces move and shape them, literally and metaphorically.

The
part that we need your expertise to complete is the first drafts and
final drafts of Personal Stories. During your time with WALC, you will
have the opportunity to help students begin, inspire ideas, give
constructive feedback, edit, edit and edit and edit, their First and
Final Drafts. This is one of the most exciting methods in our project
because students are able to understand their thoughts and opinions
about what forces have made them into the people they are
today—examining the significance of their land, community, history,
family, and culture—through a creative writing process.

We are
following Joe Lambert’s method of creating Digital Stories. You can
check out the book I am using, Digital Storytelling: Capturing Lives,
Creating Community, by Joe Lambert. They also have a website that you
can enjoy: